North India

Classical India Cities
Discover Indian architecture, renowned pilgrimage sites, natural beauty and the magic of a many splendoured land – Madhya Pradesh, offering diverse experience in art, culture, nature, religion and history.

The capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur, was the stronghold of a clan of rulers whose three hill forts and series of palaces in the city are important attractions. Known as the Pink City because of the colour of the stone used exclusively in the walled city, Jaipur’s bazaars sell embroidered leather shoes, blue pottery, tie-and-dye scarves and other exotic wares.

For most of the time Agra alternated with Delhi as the capital of the Mughal Empire. As such one finds many marvels of the Mughal architecture in and around the city, the most famous of them being the Taj Mahal. Not only does the story of the love of a king for his wife haunt its visitors but also the architectural splendour leave its visitors mesmerized. The Agra Fort, built by the great Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D., is a masterpiece of design and construction. Within the fort are a number of exquisite buildings, including the Moti Masjid, Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khas, Sheesh Mahal and Musamman Burj, where Emperor Shah Jahan died in imprisonment.

Varanasi, the City of Lord Shiva, is situated on the bank of the sacred Ganges River and is one of the holiest cities of India. Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the waters of the Ganges, a ritual that washes away all sins. The city is a magical city where the most intimate rituals of life and death take place in public on the city's famous ghats (riverbanks). It is this accessibility to the practices of ancient religious traditions that captivates many visitors. In the past the city has been known as Kashi and Benares, but its present name is a restoration of an ancient name meaning the city between two rivers, the Varuna and Assi. It has been a centre of learning and civilization for over 2000 years and claims to be one of the oldest living cities in the world.

The erstwhile capital of the Chandela Kings, Khajuraho is famous for its magnificent temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and the Jain tirthankars. Despite the fact that they were dedicated to different Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu and Jain saints, they followed the same architectural style. The decorations, the exquisitely carved sculptures, with which the temples are so liberally embellished have made Khajuraho famous. The divine sculptures in these temples are a tribute to life itself. There is an astonishing profusion of individual figures of gods, goddesses, and voluptuous women, mythical beasts, couples in erotic poses all carved in minute detail. The murals depict the life and times of the Chandelas and celebrate the erotic state of being.

Panna's many splendoured heritage and topography including the Panna National Park, the Ken River and the vertical rocks amidst deep forest provides enormous potential for a wide variety of natural, cultural and adventure tourism. Panna National Park was created in 1981. It was declared as Panna Tiger Reserve in 1994.